Director Tim Story’s (“Queens”) new horror comedy “The Blackening” just got its first trailer. The film has already made its debut at the Toronto Film Festival, and had a positive reception.
“The Blackening” centers around seven friends who get together over Juneteenth weekend at a stereotypical cabin in the woods. As they celebrate the power, of course, cuts out. In searching for a breaker the group came across a door labeled “Game Room.” This is where they stumble across a creepy board game called “The Blackening.” One character calls it “Jim Crow Monopoly,” while another remarks it must “run off of racism.” The center figure on the board is clearly meant to resemble characters in minstrel shows.
That is when the TV flicks on to reveal a deranged killer who has captured one of their group. The masked villain demands that they play the game or their friend will be killed. When a player reluctantly picks a card it reads “In your predicament, the black character is always the first to die. I will spare your lives if you sacrifice the person you deem the blackest.” Cut to a montage of our potential victims literally fighting for their lives. All while Nas’ “Made You Look” provides the soundtrack.
“The Blackening” is co-written by Tracy Oliver (“Harlem”) and Dewayne Perkins (“The Amber Ruffin Show”). While it may not be as meta as “Scream” the intent is clearly to spoof horror genre staples through a black lens. Even the poster points out “We can’t all die first.”
The film stars Grace Byers (“Harlem”), Jermaine Fowler (“The Drop”), Melvin Gregg (“Nine Perfect Strangers”), X Mayo (“American Auto”), Dewayne Perkins (“The Upshaws”), Antoinette Robertson (“Diggstown”), Sinqua Walls (“Nanny”), Jay Pharoah (“Out of Office”), and Yvonne Orji (“Insecure”).
“The Blackening” will fittingly hit theaters on Juneteenth, June 16th. Check out the trailer below:
